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Wednesday, 25 June 2008

230 teams, 600 games all for football in Canberra. Must be worth some dough to the community.

The 2008 McDonalds Kanga Cup has received a record number of applications with 230 teams expected to converge on the nation’s capital in two weeks time for the week long junior football tournament.

In its 18th year, the international junior football tournament is the biggest of its kind in the southern hemisphere with 76 teams from NSW, 5 from Queensland, 4 from South Australia and 1 from Western Australia.

“It’s certainly a thrill to see the number of teams that have entered this year, from not only across Australia but around the world” McDonalds Kanga Cup coordinator Sarah Body said.

“For the first time in ages we’re welcoming back teams from the United States of America and Western Australia.”

The week long tournament will see over 600 matches be played out over ten venues with finals at Greenway Enclosed, McKellar and Deakin Stadium on Thursday and Friday.

According to Body, along with a record number of teams, this year’s McDonald’s Kanga Cup will see some differences.

“It’s with excitement that we’re introducing an under 10’s division to this year’s tournament for the first time which will be great for those young ones to play against some opposition they’ve never encountered.”

Local, interstate and international teams may be competing for the prestigious silverware the tournament’s sole focus isn’t on results rather ‘uniting the youth of the world through football’ with a number of cultural and social activities organised for the week.

“The ever popular Host Night makes a return on Monday along with the Moove to the Groove Disco on Tuesday followed by the Greater Union Movie Night on Wednesday,” Body said.

“All the activities provide the perfect opportunities for all participants to interact and build friendships in a non-competitive environment.”

Along with a record number of teams, 130 referees from interstate and the ACT will officiate the tournament, a record of its own.

“Referees are an integral part of the tournament with the McDonalds Kanga Cup playing an important role in the development of not only players but referees as well,” referee coordinator Daniel Murphy said.

The Kanga Cup kicks off on the 6th July with the Opening Ceremony at the AIS and concludes on Friday with finals and an award presentation.